Timeless Loop: A Decade of Edge of Tomorrow (2014)
Staff Writer Tan Yan An reflects on the film, Edge of Tomorrow (2014), directed by Doug Liman, starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt.
I was 13 when Edge of Tomorrow (2014, directed by Doug Liman) first hit theatres, and I vividly recall the excitement I felt during that first viewing. Its thrilling action sequences and the time-loop concept, which set it apart from other sci-fi films, captivated me. It was more than just an adrenaline rush—it felt fresh, something I hadn’t seen before. I was so entranced by it that I pestered my parents to take me back to the theatre the next day to watch it again. But as the years passed, the movie still stuck for me for reasons that went beyond the explosions and special effects. Essentially, the film defies genre conventions, using the time-loop mechanic to blend elements of sci-fi, action, comedy, romance, and existential dread.
Edge of Tomorrow is a time-loop sci-fi action film where Major William Cage (Tom Cruise), is thrust into battle against an alien race known as the Mimics. He dies on the battlefield only to wake up and relive the same day over and over. The time-loop mechanic allows for creative battle sequences as well as a sense of progression even as the events all technically take place over the course of a day. There is a growing sense of nihility with the expectation that things will eventually hit a plateau. Despite this underlying tension, the film manages to balance its darker tones with humour—ranging from slapstick moments to dark comedy. Each time Cage dies in an unexpected or ridiculous way, the film lightens the mood, creating a dynamic tone that keeps the audience entertained while still maintaining a sense of urgency and gravity.
Furthermore, the film tells enough of its story to allow the plot to progress while leaving enough unsaid, encouraging the audience to piece together elements for themselves. This narrative restraint is arguably one of its many hooks, keeping viewers engaged and eager to see how each reset unfolds.
Despite its solid 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes displaying its dedicated fanbase, Edge of Tomorrow never quite achieved the cultural footprint it deserved. One main reason why Edge of Tomorrow didn't achieve the success it deserved due to its lacklustre marketing. The trailers and promotional material failed to emphasise the film’s most unique quality: the time-loop mechanic. Instead, the trailers made it look like another generic sci-fi action film, missing the opportunity to highlight the depth, humour, and existential stakes.
Moreover, the title itself, Edge of Tomorrow, is fairly nondescript, failing to convey the film's innovative twist on the Groundhog Day concept. Upon its release in 2014, it was contending with other heavy hitters like Guardians of the Galaxy and X-Men: Days of Future Past.
I quickly discovered that it was based on a Japanese novel titled All You Need Is Kill (2004) by Hiroshi Sakurazaka, with illustrations by Yoshitoshi Abe. I dove into the Sci-Fi manga adaptation that was published in the Shonen Jump magazine, eager to compare the two versions. What I found surprised me—there were stark differences in tone, character, and even plot. While the film and manga shared core elements of time loops and alien warfare, the way these stories unfolded left me with two very different experiences. In hindsight, these differences aren’t just superficial; they speak to contrasting approaches to storytelling—one geared towards Western action, and the other more introspective and Japanese in terms of its Bushido philosophy and Samsara concept.
Cage, the film’s protagonist, starts as anything but a traditional hero. The audience watches as this cowardly, untrained man slowly transforms into a hardened warrior, driven by both necessity and the weight of his experiences. It’s not a glamorous start, but that’s part of what makes his evolution believable.
The Mimics are fast, erratic, and deadly. Gunfire rattles throughout the battlefield, intermittently drowning out the screams and battle cries. The chaos of the battlefield overwhelms Cage, and his first glimpse of the proclaimed war hero, Rita (Emily Blunt), the "Angel of Verdun," ends with her being swiftly decimated.
Cage’s counterpart in the Japanese novel is Keiji, who embraces a hubris which differs from Cruise’s western portrayal of the character. In the cyclical process of death, Keiji refines his skill and tact, revealing himself to be rather detached from the harsh emotional realities he is thrust within in order to persist living. Yet, both characters are ultimately human—fragile, resilient, and trapped in the relentless cycle of their circumstances. Despite the different adaptations of the story, both characters’ arcs are rooted in growth. Cage’s bumbling charm turns into sharp instinct, while Keiji’s detached precision hardens him into a soldier who accepts his fate, displaying the Bushido trait of honour.
Edge of Tomorrow takes a more Westernised approach to the theme of rebirth, using the time loop as a plot device and as a way to inject humour into the story. Cage’s numerous deaths are often played for laughs—he’s crushed by vehicles, blown up, shot repeatedly, and each reset feels more like a video game checkpoint than an emotional moment of loss. The film uses this device to entertain, turning death into spectacle. At first, each death is a reset button, allowing Cage to learn from his mistakes without much emotional cost. It’s almost a game, where every failure gets him one step closer to victory. But as the film progresses, the repetition of the loops takes a toll—not only on Cage but on the audience as well. The sense of futility begins to sink in, especially when Cage realises he has been reliving the same day for what feels like months, and yet the people around him only experience him for a few fleeting hours.
In contrast, the manga leans heavily into the psychological and emotional consequences of these repeated deaths. Keiji’s rebirth is not a reset—It’s a reminder of the futility of life, each death taking a piece of his soul. The manga’s grittier tone emphasises this torment, with each death depicted in graphic, almost brutal detail. Keiji’s experiences are not just about survival, but about confronting the despair of being trapped in an endless loop of suffering. The story explores themes of existential dread and the pain of being unable to escape one’s fate.
The manga taps into the concept of Samsara—the cycle of death and rebirth, where one endures endless suffering until one attains enlightenment. Keiji’s repeated deaths become a meditation on this cycle, with each reset forcing him to confront the pain and futility of existence. It’s a far more introspective take on the concept of rebirth, one that carries a spiritual weight that the film never fully embraces. While Edge of Tomorrow focuses on the action and spectacle, All You Need Is Kill delves into the emotional and philosophical consequences of being trapped in such a cycle.
The difference in tone between the film and the manga is stark. Edge of Tomorrow is a fast-paced, high-octane action film, where the humour often punctuates the tension, providing much-needed relief. Cage’s early struggles are played for laughs, as he fumbles through his first few loops like a clumsy amateur. Even as the stakes rise, the film’s action-heavy pacing keeps the tone light, with moments of slapstick humour sprinkled throughout to ease the tension.
Contrastingly, the manga adopts a more noir-inspired atmosphere. Shadows dominate the panels, and there’s a persistent sense of dread that lingers over every scene. The battlefield in the manga feels oppressive, each death visceral and gruesome, with blood splattering the pages. The manga doesn’t shy away from the horror of war, using graphic body horror to emphasise the brutal reality of the time loop. Each death is not just a reset, but a reminder of the high cost of survival. Where the film entertains, the manga unsettles, forcing the reader to confront the darker implications of its premise.
While the film successfully entertains, it often prioritises the thrill of action over the heavier existential dilemmas posed in the manga, resulting in a narrative that feels more comfortable in its genre conventions rather than challenging its audience to grapple with the true cost of heroism. Yet, it does have its moments of tenderness and contemplation as Cage grapples with the weight of his choices as if he only has one life to live.
Rewatching Edge of Tomorrow as an adult, I continue to appreciate its masterful storytelling, sharp humour, and seamless blend of action with emotional stakes. While it may not have received the cultural explosion it truly deserved upon its release, for those of us who fell under its spell, it stands as a timeless gem, no matter how many resets it takes.